Dental tray



\ T/EQQAGATZ T. H. RAGATZ.

DENTAL TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25.1920.

1,360,146. Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

F1573. I I lIIL UNITED. STATES THOMAS H. RAGATZ, 0F PRAIRIE DU SAC, WISCONSIN.

DENTAL TRAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented NOV. 23, 1920.

Application filed May 25, 1920. Serial No. 384,047.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. RAoA'rz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Prairie du Sac, in the county of Sank and tltate of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Dental Tray, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide a tray which may be used to take upper and lower partial impressions and to secure the bite in one operation. A further object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the tray may be shaped to be used in connection with mouths of differ ent sizes.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of What is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows in plan, a device constructcd in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation showing one side of the structure; Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the opposite side of the structure; Fig. 4 is an end elevation; and Fig. 5 is a cross section.

In carrying out the invention there is pro vided a body 1 in the form of a U-shaped member including an arm 2 and an arm 3. the arm 2 terminating in a handle 4 which may be in the form of an I. The numeral 5 denotes a side plate provided atits outer end with a notch 6 defining bendable wings 7. The side plate 5 is secured to the arm 2 from the inner end of the side plate to the base of the notch 6. The numeral 8 denotes a side plate provided in one end with a notch 9 defining bendable wings 10,

the side plate 8 being secured to the arm 3 from the inner end of the side plate to the base of the notch 9. In cross section, the side plate 5 is straight or nearly so, as shown in Fig. 5, the plate 5 having a slight longitudinal curvature as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The side plate 8 is through-shaped in cross section, as indicated at 11 in Fig. 5, the outer end of the plate being closed, as shown at 12.

In practical operation, assuming that closed mouth partial impressions and bite are to be taken, the impression compound is mounted between the plates 5 and 8 on 0pposite sides of a narrow strip of rubber dam. The device is located in proper posi tion in the mouth of the patient, and the patient is required to bite through the com pound to articulation. The compound then is chilled with cold water, and the device, with the compound, is removed from the mouth. The U-shaped body member or wire 1 is resilient and, when the teeth are closed together, furnishes tension against sides of the impression compound. The bend in the member 1 passes back of the last teeth in the mouth. The wings 7 and the wings 10 may be bent readily into any desired shape to fit the mouth of the patient. The plates 8 and 5 are shaped to approximate the curvature of the line of teeth and are so constructed that they will retain the wax or compound. The device may, of course, be manipulated. by the handle 4:.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is In a device of the class described, a U shaped body comprising arms; and side plates mounted on the arms, one of the plates having a terminal notch defining bendable wings.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS H. RAGATZ.

Witnesses:

I. H. LEYS, Q. P. AoooLA. 

